Viewing page 168 of 187

This transcription has been completed. Contact us with corrections.

163

Monday, 8 February 1926

   There is a little open stove particularly affected by the Chinese from which there is great danger of being gassed. The stove burns coal balls and there is only one vent, into the room. After the fire is started outside the stove is brought into the room, and there is not a bit of smoke, or of waste heat, but there is often gas. Last night our men went to sleep when their stove was not entirely out, and during the night (they never open their window, ofcourse) they got a bit too much gas. We were late rising this morning, and when I got up I found them still not around. I rang, and Grandpa climbed out, so dopy he could hardly stand up. It took the best part of the morning for them to recover so Dorothy got breakfast and lunch. I spent a good part of the forenoon making a shelf for the cabinet in my study, and got things pretty well fixed up in there. It was an auspicious way to begin a vacation. 

   After lunch we went house-hunting, and found that the Wang house we had been considering had been rented. I went up to School and Dorothy went over to see Miss Kendall about her house. I don't think we want it, it is too far out of the way. I brought Alan Priest home for tea with me and we had a good visit. 

   In the evening the "Scribblers" met at Rubys' and I read the contributions of the evening. One of the best was Margaret Ruby's story "Lila Fits the Picture," a very clever little character study. Dorothy has been coaching her along and telling her to get busy and express herself, and I was quite surprised and delighted with this result. On the whole we had a very good meeting. My essay, another Tzu Yu sketch, was not commented on at all - I think it is too compact for ready comprehension by ear alone and too full of literary allusions to Chinese history and legend to be comprehensible to most of the crowd under any circumstances. I'll have to do some sweet and simple verses for the next meeting, and get within their ken. (This, of course, is by way of excusing myself.)

Tuesday, 9 February
   Dorothy stayed in bed for fun most of the morning. I worked at one thing and another, especially finishingup an article on the